Apparatus for grouping articles into package units



July 13, 1965 Filed Oct. 1, 1952 E. c. SHERMAN 3,194,381

APPARATUS FOR GROUPING ARTICLES INTO PACKAGE UNITS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

EARL E C. SHERMAN w MW. W

A 7 TO/PNEY July 13, 1965 E. c. SHERMAN 3,194,381

APPARATUS-FOR GRQUPING ARTICLES INTO PACKAGE UNITS Filed Oct. 1, 1962 Y a Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY NITS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 E. C. SHERMAN A TTORNEY A R m: m m W K July 13, 1965 Filed 001:; 1, 19e2 United States Patent 3,14,3S1 APPARATUS FUR GRUUWNG ARTICLES INTU PACKAGE UNETS Earle C. Sherman, Monroe, La., assignor to Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, a corporation of Virginia Filed Oct. 1, 1962, Ser. No. 227,5li5 6 Claims. (Cl. 198-34) This invention relates to apparatus for forming package units by grouping a plurality of containers, and mechanically folding and interlocking a wrapper blank about the group.

The invention more specifically relates to novel apparatus for separating continuously moving rows of containers into groups about which a wrapper blank can be folded and interlocked to form a package unit.

In apparatus for forming package units containers are delivered to a packaging machine in one or more rows by a continuously moving conveyor. The packaging machine comprises three main sections which can be identified as:

(1) A grouping section in which one or more rows of containers are separated into spaced groups of two or more containers. This apparatus is described in detail in this application.

(2) A blank applying section in which a wrapper blank is aligned with and placed on each group. Blank applying apparatus which may be used with this invention is described in detail in my cop-ending application, Serial No. 227,246, filed October 1, 1962, now l-atent No. 3,162,988.

(3) A folding section wherein the wrapper blank is mechanically folded about the group and interlocked to form a package unit. Folding apparatus which may be used for this invention is described in detail in my copending application, Serial No. 250,434, filed January 9, 1963.

Various devices are known in the prior art for separating one or more moving rows of containers into groups. These devices take the form of separating plungers mounted on continuously moving chains; or stop members interposed at spaced intervals between moving rows of containers to hold back the rows while groups having a predetermined number of containers are formed. There are certain inherent disadvantages in the known prior art structures due to their relatively complicated design which makes them difiicult to maintain and to adjust. The most serious disadvantage; however, is that the lines of containers being delivered .to the machine encounter a momentary delay while they are grouped. The delay necessary for grouping reduces the overall speed and efficiency of the packaging machine, since the rate at which the containers can be grouped determines the overall speed at which the machine can run.

This invention discloses novel mechanism for grouping containers being fed .to packaging machine in one or more continuously moving lines which is simple in design, efficient in operation and requires no momentary delay as the containers are grouped. The mechanism is furthermore readily adjustable to accommodate containers being fed to the machine in single or double rows and can be readily adjusted to provide groups of two or more containers for each package unit.

To carry out this invention, two pairs of continuous chains are adjustably mounted on opposite sides of a pair of fixed support plates. The support plates extend longitudinally of the machine and are spaced from each other to provide a gap between the plates of predetermined Width. The containers are moved in single or double rows toward the first support plate by conventional conveyor means and are moved onto the plate by conveyor pressure. A- first pair of chains designated selector chains is mounted on opposite sides of the first 3,% i,38l Patented July 13, 1965 support plate. Each of the selector chains is a continuous chain traveling in a fixed path around a plurality of sprockets, one of which is a driven sprocket. The path of travel of each selector chain includes a portion inclined toward the first support plate, a portion running parallel to the plate and a portion inclined away from the plate.

Each selector chain is provided with a plurality of lugs adapted to engage the containers and propel them along the plate. The lugs on each chain are spaced apart so that they will engage behind every second or third container in the row, depending on the number of containers esired in a package unit. The selector chains thus initially select the number of containers that will be in the package unit and drive these containers along as groups toward a second pair of chains. It should be understood that the lugs on one selector chain are laterally aligned with corresponding lugs on the other selector chain so that the containers are engaged on both sides of the support plates. It should also be noted that the selector chains are driven at the same speed as the conveyor which delivers the containers to the machine so that there is no delay or relative movement of the containers in the transfer from the conveyor to the selector chains.

A second pair of chains, designated speed-up chains, are mounted generally forward of and above the selector chains on opposite sides of the support plates. Each of the speed-up chains travels in a continuous path around two or more sprockets, one of which is a drive sprocket. The path of travel of each speed-up chain includes a portion intersecting and aligned with a portion of the path of travel of a corresponding selector chain so that a driving lug on a selector chain and a driving lug on a speed-up chain can engage a given container at the same point in the movement of the container along the support plate. Since the path of travel of the speed-up chains is in a plane above the path of travel of the selector chains it is possible to'arrange for the smooth transfer of a group of containers from driving engagement with a pair of opposed lugs on the selector chains to driving engagemeat with corresponding aligned lugs on the speed-up chains. The speed-up chains are driven at a greater linear speed than the selector chains, and the lugs on the speedup chains are spaced apart a greater distance than the lugs on the selector chains. The speed-up chains accelerate the containers as a group so that relative movement occurs between the containers driven by the speed-up chains and the following containers driven by the selector chains. The groups of containers are thus spaced from each other by the speed-up chains and the grouping of the containers is completed.

Each spaced group of containers is driven by the speedup chains across the gap between the first and second support plates. As the group is propelled across the gap the path of travel of the speed-up chains diverges away from the support plates and the lugs of the speed-up chains disengage from the group. At this point a flight bar extending transversely across the path of travel of the containers moves into the space between two spaced group of containers and engages behind the first group to propel the group through the succeeding stations of the machine. The flight bars are arranged so that there is a flight bar ready to engage each group of containers as it is disengaged by the speed-up chains.

These and other features of this invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional side view of the machine of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the grouping section of the machine of this invention in detail.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view showing the details of the grouping section of the machine of this invention.

The packaging machine-of this invention comprises three main sections which are shown in FIG. 1 as a grouping section A;'a"blank applying section B; and a folding section C;

The grouping section of thisinvention is shown in FIG. I

2 as being mounted on the base, generally indicated 1, of a packaging machine at the rear end thereof. tainers, are delivered in one or more rows to the machine by a conventional conveyor, generally indicated 2. The containers are moved by the conveyor 2 onto a first rigid plate 3. A second rigid plate 4 ismounted on frame ,1 forward of plate 3 and is spaced from plate 3 to provide a gap 5 between the plates. tends forwardly beyond the grouping section, into the blank applying section B and on into the folding section;

C. of the machine. (Note FIG. 1.)

Extending transversely'across base 1 are a plurality of support members 6. Slidably mounted on the support members on opopsite sides of rigid plate 3 are a pair of support plates 7 and .8. Each of the support plates 7 and 8 is movable into partial overlapping relation with rigid,

plate. 3.

The adjustable mounting of the support plates allows the grouping apparatus to be moved toward andvaway from rigid plate '3 in orderto accommodate a single row of containers or a double row of containers moving into:

the grouping section of the machine.

' The grouping apparatus on one side of the rigid plate 3. is identical to the grouping apparatus on the opposite sideof the rigid plate; therefore it will only be necessary to describe the apparatus on one side in detail.

The grouping apparatus includes .a first pair of chains generally indicated 9 and 10, designated selector chains,

mounted on opposite sides of rigid plate 3. Chain 9 is. a continuouschain mounted for movement ina fixed path] about a plurality of sprockets. The sprockets include idler sprockets 11, 12 and 13 and .a drive sprocket 14. (Note FIG. 2.) Sprockets 11,212,113 and 14 are mounted on Con- (Note FIG. 3). Plate 4 exv The relative movement causes a space to develop between a the containers'and separates them into the groups which .will comprise the package .units To comp ensat e for the. t:

-. relative movement of the containers, the driving lugsfitl'y' on the speed-up chain are spaced apart a greater distance.

than the driving 'lugs;.19; }on-the selector .-chains.' For.

example'if lugs. 19. are spaced 8"apart the lugs would. I"

shafts 15, '16, 17 and 18 respectively. Each of the shafts;

is mounted on support plate 7 in a conventional manner.

' Chain 9 is provided with a plurality'of drive lugs 19 spaced a predetermined distance apart. The lugs are arranged to engage behind the last container of a predetermined number of containers to drive the.containers asa group along rigid plate 3.. The lugs 19 on chain 9 initially select the number of containers which will constitute the package unit. The number of containers in the group can be adjusted merely by adjusting the spacing of lugs 19.

Chain 9 is mounted so that a portion 20 of the chain converges toward rigid plate 3. This allows lugs 19 to be smoothly interposed behind the last container of the se-. 'lected group to drive that particular group along rigid 5 plate 3. A second portion 21 of chain 9 runs parallel to rigid plate 3. A third portion 22 of chain 9 diverges Y away from rigid plate 3 so thatthe driving lugs on the chain can be smoothly disengaged from the containers.

Itshould be noted at this point that chain 9 is driven at the same speed as conveyor 2, so thatv no relative movementoccurs between the containers driven onto the. plate by the. conveyor 2 and those being driven by the;

lugs on chain 9. There is continuous uninterrupted movement of the containers along rigid plate 3.

A second pair of chains generally indicated23 and 24,

designated speed-up chains, is mounted generally forward of selector chains 9 and 10 on opposite sidesofthe rigid mounted on a pair of sprockets 25 and 26. :Sprocket26 is mounted onshaft 17 along with and aboves'procket 13 plates 3 and 4. Speed-up chain 23. is a continuouschain of selector chain 9; Sprocket 25 is a drive sprocket: mounted on a vertically extendingshaft 27, vVertical shaft @27 Idepe'nds from a miter box 27A mounted'on a support 7 member28 which extends transversely across the machine above rigid plate 4 1A horizontal drive shaft29 mounted on-top of support member ZSisconnectedby conventional "gear means mounted in miter; box 27-A o-to verticalshaft 27,." Vertical shaft27is adjustably mounted relative tosupport 28 so thatsprOcketZS: can be adjusted I laterally along with the sprockets mounted 'onsupport; plate .7, The adjustable rnounting includes; a plurality-pf- 'j a '28- and anadjustable sleeve 29A slots'in support plate forshaft29.fi

Speed-up -chain.23 is provided with drivelugsg 30 adapted to engage acontainen in the :samfe .mann'erfas drive lugs 19 on chain-9;; Chain zliaincludes a 'portion 31 converging toward rigid P121163, a portion 32. running 5 a parallel to rigid plate 3 andia' portion 33 Jdivergi'ngf away," V e from rigid plate 3to facilitate the entry; driving engage-i I ment, the disengagement of the lugs.30;with theicontain I ers in the same manner asfchain 9.

Speed-up chain'23 is arranged relative to's ele'ctor. chain 9 so that the position of a'lugpn thespeed-up chain 1 coincides with :the position ;'-of i a corresponding. lug on r the selector chain 9 at apredetermined point in, the move-.

ment of the containers. .The predetermined point-isthe; position of thecontainers'whereina lug 19 on the selector; 7 chain is about to disengage from .a particular container while a lug 30 of chain 23 is engaging the'container. .Ihisg I arrangement allows the smooth transfer- 0f thefidr'iven 1 containerjfrom s'electorchain19 to speed-up chain-23$ I Speed-up chain 23] is driven at a .higher'speedzthan selector chain 9..v The'diifer'ence in speed of the chains pro.- duces relative movementbetween those cans driven by the;

selector chain and those-drivenv by the" speed-up chain.-v

be spaced 10" ormore apart.

' 'The groups of containers are :thus spaced from-each 7 other by the speed-up chains and the grouping of the con.-.

tainers is completed.

The spaced groups ofeontainers are driven by-speed-up. chains 23 and24 across the 'gap'S between rigid platesv's and 4. As a'given group ofacontainersis,driven. across gap 5 it is disengaged by the lugs of the speed-up chains as they diverge away from-the containers.

Coincident with the disengagement of the containers by '1ugs30; the containers areengaged by aflight bar 405 which drives the containers spaced groups through-{the succeeding sections of. the machine.

Flight bars 40 are disposed transversely 'of'themav- :is apparent fromvFlGURE l of the drawings eaeh zflight bar 40 travels in a continuous path around rigid1plate- 4. The spacingand speedof: the flight bars is. arranged V so that a flight .bar moves up through gap 5 into engagement with a group; of containers just as the [containers are released hythe; lugs of the speed-up ichainsp The '7 flight -.bar propels" the grouped IcOntainersIthrough the :blank F applying section B lsand through the folding seci011C'Ofjlihti'l'llflChlHE-i V The .fiight bars 40, drive the group's :o'flcontainers at the. same speed as they leave the speed-up chains 23; and; j 245. Thus there v;is no. relative movement between the groups of; containers leaving the {speed-up g'chairis and those groups of containers being driven by the flight bars. The flight bars are positioned to maintain the spacing between the groups of containers.

The flight bars, speed-up chains, and selector chains, .are driven from a common power source 60 by an arrangement of sprockets and chains which will now be described. By driving these elements through a common power source the problem of coordinating the relative speed of theseelements is minimized since the speed of a single drive motor is constant; whereas in those arrangements where several drive motors are used the relative speed of the drives varies and poses a coordinating problem. 7

Electric motor 60 is connected to shaft 47 by means of chain 61 and a sprocket 62 which is mounted adjacent sprocket 43. Shaft 47 in turn drives flight chains 41 and 42. Flight chains 41 and 42 drive shafts 48 and 4-9 through their respective sprockets as shown in FIG. 1. A sprocket (not shown) is mounted on shaft 49 adjacent sprocket 45' and is connected to a sprocket 5% on shaft 29 by means of chain 51. (Note FIG. 2.) Shaft 29 drives shaft 27 through the gear (not shown) in miter box 27A. (Once again only the driving arrangement of the speed-up chain and selector chain on one side of the rigid plates will be described; it being apparent that the drive on the other side of the rigid plates through the other miter box 273 is identical in operation.) Shaft 27 drives sprocket 25 which drives speed-up chain 23. The speed-up chain 23 drives sprocket 26 which is keyed to shaft 17. Shaft 17 mounts idler sprocket 13 which is free to rotate relative to the shaft. Keyed to shaft 17 below plate 7 is another sprocket 52. (Note FIG. 2.) Sprocket 52 drives shaft 18 through sprocket 53 and drive chain 54. Shaft 18 has keyed thereto sprocket 14 which drives the selector chain 9. The selector chain 9 being mounted on drive sprocket 14 and idler sprockets 15, 16 and 17 as described above. By this arrangement it is possible to have the speed-up chains, the selector chains and the flight bars driven at different relative speeds from the same power source which is motor 649.

Although this invention has been described in detail according to the specific embodiment shown in the drawings, it is not intended to be limited by this description.

It is anticipated that certain modifications and variations in design will be apparent to those skilled in the art which will be within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for eparating continuously moving rows of objects into package groups comprising, first conveyor means continuously moving rows of objects forward onto a stationary plate, a pair of laterally spaced selector means driven at a speed at least as fast as said first conveyor means, each of said selector means having first lug means mounted thereon, said first pair of selector means being operative to engage a group of said objects at spaced diametrically opposed intervals and to propel said group along said stationary plate toward speed-up means, a pair of laterally spaced speed-up means, each of said speed-up means having second lug means mounted thereon, the lug means on each of said speed-up means being spaced a greater distance apart than the lug means on each of said selector means, said selector means and said speed-up means being mounted for movement in continuous paths intersecting at a common point to effect a transfer of said group from said first lug means to said second lug means, means driving said pair of speed-up means at a greater speed than said pair of selector means to accelerate said groups of objects, the difference in speed and the spacing of the lugs of said pair of speed-up means being effective to separate said rows of objects into spaced package groups each containing a predetermined number of units.

2. The device of claim 1 including second conveyor means operative to simultaneously engage in the space between said groups as the groups are disengaged by said second lug means to drive the groups beyond said speed-up me ans.

3. Grouping apparatus comprising first and second rigid plates positioned end to end with a space between said ends, conveyor means delivering containers in rows to said first rigid plate, selector means mounting first spaced drive lugs driven at least the same speed as said conveyor means for continuous movement in fixed horizontal paths on opposed sides of said first rigid plate, speed-up means mounting second spaced drive lugs for continuous movement in fixed horizontal paths on opposite sides of said rigid plates, the paths of movement of said first drive lugs and second drive lugs intersecting at a common point to effect the transfer of containers from said first drive lugs to said second drive lugs, said second drive lugs "being spaced from each other a'greater distance than said second drive lugs are spaced from each other and common drive means propelling said speed-up means at a greater linear speed than said selector means.

4. The device of claim 3 including means mounting a plurality of rigid bars for movement in a vertical plane through the space between said rigid plates to simultaneously engage the groups of containers as they are moved onto said second rigid plate and disengaged by said second spaced drive lugs.

5. Apparatus for grouping rows of containers being delivered onto a rigid plate by a conveyor comprising, a pair of selector chains driven at least as fast as the speed of said conveyor, sprocket means mounting each of said selector chains for movement in a first continuous horizontal path on opposite sides of a first rigid plate, lug means on each of said selector chains arranged to engage behind a plurality of containers on said first rigid plate to drive said containers a predetermined distance along said plate and to disengage from said containers, a pair of speed-up chains, sprocket means mounting each of said speed-up chains on opposite sides of said first rigid plate for movement in a fired second horizontal path, said first path and said second path intersecting at a common point to effect transfer of said groups from said selector chains to said speed-up chains, lug means on each of said speed-up chains arranged to engage behind the containers as they are disengaged by said selector chains, drive said containers past said first rigid plate onto a spaced second rigid plate, and then disengaged from said containers, means driving said speedup chains at a greater linear speed than said selector chains, said drive lugs on each of said speed-up chains being spaced apart a greater distance than said lugs on each of said selector chains, the difference in speed and lug spacing of said selector chains and speed-up chains being effective to arrange said containers into spaced groups having a predetermined number of containers in each group.

6. Grouping apparatus comprising, a pair of selector chains adjustably mounted on opposite sides of a first rigid plate, each of said selector chains being mounted on a plurality of sprockets for continuous movement in a fixed horizontal path, the path of movement of each of said selector chains including a portion converging toward said rigid plate, a portion running parallel to said rigid plate and a portion diverging away from said rigid plate, each of said selector chains being provdied with a plurality of drive lugs spaced apart a predetermined distance to engage behind a plurality of containers positioned on said rigid plate to drive said containers along the plate in selected groups, a pair of speed-up chains, adjustable sprocket means mounting each of said selector chains for movement in a fixed horizontal path generally above and forward of said selector chains, each of said speed-up chains being provided with a plurality of drive lugs spaced apart a greater distance than the drive lugs on each of said selector chains, the path .of movement of each of said speed-up chains including a portion converging toward said rigid plates, a portion running parallel to said rigid plates and a -porti0n dig rnentof said selector chains and'said speedup chains 7 intersecting at a common -point so that as a drive lug on the selector chain disengages said group of containk ers a drive lug on said speed-up chainstwill engage said containers, common drive means propelling said:specdup chainstat a greater speed than said select-or chainsto accelerate the groups of containers'being driven by' the speed-up chains, a second rigid plate mounted generally disengaged iby thesdrive' lug on said speed-up chains, the difference in spacing of the drive lugs on the speedtverging raway from said rigid plate, the paths of move a p. a s a t sele having a predetermined; number of containers. a .r

- Examiners;

h s a d manners n speed {of the selector chains and speed u'p chains (being 7 effective to arrange rthe containers into spacedgroups 

1. APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING CONTINUOUSLY MOVING ROWS OF OBJECTS INTO PACKAGE GROUPS COMPRISING, FIRST CONVEYOR MEANS CONTINUOUSLY MOVING ROWS OF OBJECTS FORWARD ONTO A STATIONARY PLATE, A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED SELECTOR MEANS DRIVEN AT A SPEED AT LEAST AS FAST AS SAID FIRST CONVEYOR MEANS, EACH OF SAID SELECTOR MEANS HAVING FIRST LUG MEANS MOUNTED THEREON, SAID FIRST PAIR OF SELECTOR MEANS BEING OPERATIVE TO ENGAGE A GROUP OF SAID OBJECTS AT SPACED DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED INTERVALS AND TO PROPEL SAID GROUP ALONG SAID STATIONARY PLATE TOWARD SPEED-UP MEANS, A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED SPEED-UP MEANS, EACH OF SAID SPEED-UP MEANS HAVING SECOND LUG MEANS MOUNTED THEREON, THE LUG MEANS ON EACH OF SAID SPEED-UP MEANS BEING SPACED A GREATER DISTANCE APART THAN THE LUG MEANS ON EACH OF SAID SELECTOR MEANS, SAID SELECTOR MEANS AND SAID SPEED-UP MEANS BEING MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT IN CONTINUOUS PATHS INTERSECTING AT A COMMON POINT TO EFFECT A TRANSFER OF SAID GROUP FROM SAID FIRST LUG MEANS TO SAID SECOND LUG MEANS, MEANS DRIVING SAID PAIR OF SPEED-UP MEANS AT A GREATER SPEED THAN SAID PAIR OF SELECTOR MEANS TO ACCELERATE SAID GROUPS OF OBJECTS, THE DIFFERENCE IN SPEED AND THE SPACING OF THE LUGS OF SAID PAIR OF SPEED-UP MEANS BEING EFFECTIVE TO SEPARATE SAID ROWS OF OBJECTS INTO SPACED PACKAGE GROUPS EACH CONTAINING A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF UNITS. 